Virginia Satir (1916 – 1988)
Psychotherapist, family therapist, co-founder of the Mental Health Research Institute in Menlo Park, founder of the International Human Learning Resources Network in 1970, and The Advanta Network in 1977; born Virginia Pagenkopf.
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I believe the greatest gift I can conceive of having from anyone is to be seen, heard, understood and touched by them. The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear, understand and touch another person. When this is done, I feel contact has been made.
We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.
Why Family Therapy...because it deals with family pain.
I have often thought had there been somebody like me around, something might have been able to be done. I also think I don't see how I could have done what I've done in the world had I been married. And when I decided-because I've been on the verge of marriage many times-I said no, because if I wanted to roam the globe like I did, it wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be fair to me, it wouldn't be fair to the people. At the point, I really feel it was a kind of destiny because I've been able to get to places. There are some people in the world who have other jobs to do.
A growing body of clinical observation has pointed to the conclusion that the family therapy must be oriented to the family as a whole.
To all my friends, colleagues and family: I send you love. Please support me in my passage to a new life. I have no other way to thank you than this. You have all played a significant part in my development of loving. As a result, my life has been rich and full, so I leave feeling very grateful.
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